The inspector was a little weary, but he continued without any sign of impatience.

“I know nothing about the British and Imperial Granaries, my lord,” he said.  “My time is too fully occupied to take any interest in outside affairs.  In the course of time,” he went on, “we shall inevitably get to the bottom of this very cleverly engineered conspiracy.  Crime of every sort is detected sooner or later, except in the case, say, of a single-handed murder, or an offence of that nature.  In the present instance, there is evidence that a very large number of persons were concerned, and detection finally becomes, therefore, a certainty.  In the meantime, however, I thought it as well to pass you a word of warning.”

“Warning, indeed!” Dredlinton muttered.  “I won’t move out of the house without a bodyguard.  If any one dares to interfere with me, I’ll—­I’ll shoot them!  What happens to a man, Inspector, if he shoots another in self-defence, eh?”

“It depends upon the circumstances, my lord,” was the cautious reply.  “The law in England requires self-defence to be very clearly established.”

Dredlinton moved to the sideboard, poured himself out a liqueur and drank it off.

“Will you take something.  Inspector?” he asked, turning around.

“I thank your lordship, no!”

Dredlinton thrust his hands into his pockets and returned to his seat.

“I don’t want to lose my temper,” he said,—­“I am perfectly cool, as you see, Inspector—–­but put yourself in my position now.  Don’t you think it’s enough to make a man furious to have an official from Scotland Yard come into his house here in the heart of London and warn him that he is in danger of being kidnapped?”

“I don’t think that I went quite so far as that,” the inspector objected, “nor do I in any way suggest that, sooner or later, the people who are responsible for Mr. Rees’ disappearance will not be brought to justice.  But I considered it my duty to point out to you that the directors of your company appear to have excited a feeling throughout the whole of England, which might well bring you enemies wholly unconnected with the ordinary criminal classes.  That is where our difficulty lies.”

Lord Dredlinton had the air of a man argued into reasonableness.

“I see, Inspector.  I quite understand,” he declared.  “But listen to me.  I shall throw myself upon your protection.  In Mr. Rees’ absence, it is of vital importance, during the next few days, that nothing should happen to Mr. Phipps, Mr. Martin or myself.  You must have us all shadowed.  You must see that I am not lost sight of for a moment.  Here is a little earnest of what is to come,” he went on, drawing out his pocketbook and passing a folded note over towards his visitor, “and remember, Mr. Phipps has offered five hundred pounds for the discovery of the person who is responsible for his nephew’s disappearance.”

Shields made no movement towards the money.  He shook his head gently.